Marine monitoring using UAVs: A bibliometric and systematic review from 2022 to 2025 addressing macroalgae and organic waste in marine environment

According to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets such as “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development” have gained prominence and are increasingly prioritized by governmental and scientific agendas worldwide. This article presents a systematic and bibliometric review of the recent scientific literature on macroalgae monitoring using UAVs, applying the PRISMA methodology. The review summarizes recent UAV-based methodological developments for macroalgae detection and biomass assessment and consolidating the main technical limitations and research gaps reported in the literature. This approach enabled mapping the temporal evolution of research, the main thematic clusters, the countries with the highest scientific output, and the main research gaps. The research was guided by leading questions, emphasizing: (i) the current relevance of the topic, (ii) limitations of traditional marine monitoring methods, (iii) gaps in the literature, and (iv) recent contributions to sustainability. Publications from 2022 to 2025 were analyzed, and the review specifically examined UAV sensor types, monitoring environments, and analytical approaches applied to macroalgae detection and biomass assessment. Results revealed an increase in the number of articles from 2024 onward, with research predominantly conducted in Asia and Europe. It was also observed that the main limitations are associated with technical factors such as sunlight reflection, water transparency, and the capacity to detect submerged biomass, as well as the need for methodological standardization across studies. Overall, this study provides an integrated view of the role of UAVs in marine monitoring, highlighting their potential to advance sustainable practices, such as supporting large-scale and high-resolution monitoring of macroalgal biomass, improving the management of coastal organic waste, and contributing to evidence-based decision-making aligned with SDGs. • Review of 2022–2025 studies on drone-based marine monitoring. • UAVs enhance mapping of macroalgae and marine organic waste. • Asia and Europe lead global research on drone marine monitoring. • Identifies technical and methodological gaps for future UAV studies. • Promotes UAV integration in sustainable coastal management.