Threat of Alien Species to Native Biodiversity in Mangroves near Latin America’s Largest Port: Pathways for Technological Innovation and Strengthening of Regulations

Mangrove forests are biodiverse and highly productive coastal ecosystems, fundamental to fisheries and tourism. However, they are severely threatened by human activities and invasive species, particularly in port areas such as the Port of Santos, necessitating effective environmental management. This study aimed to analyze the risks of biological invasion in mangrove ecosystems stemming from port activities, with a focus on the Port of Santos (PS), Brazil. To achieve this, we conducted a bibliometric review using the Web of Science and Scopus databases, analyzed vessel traffic flows arriving at the PS over 14 years (from 2010 to 2024), and discussed alternatives to address the challenge of biological invasion. The review revealed a significant gap in the scientific literature, as few studies (9.9%, n = 71) address the intersection of maritime transport, invasive species, and mangroves in Latin American contexts. The intense and constant flow of international vessels into the Port of Santos, totaling 15,193 arrivals from more than 200 ports worldwide between 2010 and 2024, poses a persistent threat of biological invasion. This high-volume connectivity, with several foreign hubs exceeding 300 departures in the period, reinforces the role of ships as vectors transporting exotic species in ballast water and through hull fouling. This can destabilize local ecosystems and cause significant socioeconomic losses unless control measures, mediated by effective policies, regulations, and technologies, are implemented in the short term. A spatiotemporal analysis of vessel traffic flows over a 14-year period revealed persistent high-risk corridors for bioinvasion, directly linking maritime activity patterns to the threat level for adjacent mangrove ecosystems. The data indicate a substantial challenge for the PS, yet one with a high potential for resolution in the medium term, contingent upon investment in technology and regulation.