A Comprehensive Review of Bio-Architectural Mitigation for Maritime Oil Spills: Leveraging Rhizosphere Dynamics and Engineered Bio-Sorbents to Prevent Subsurface Hydrocarbon Entrapment

Mangrove forests are the silent guardians of our coastlines, yet they are uniquely defenseless against the devastating impact of maritime oil spills. When a ship leaks oil, the very thing that makes mangroves strong—their intricate, tangled root systems—becomes their downfall, acting like a comb that traps toxic sludge and pulls it deep into the mud. Once oil is "entrapped" in these oxygen-poor sediments, it can persist for decades, poisoning the ecosystem from the inside out. This review brings together thirty years of research to find a better way forward. We move beyond harsh mechanical clean-ups, which often do more harm than good, to explore the "Rhizosphere Effect"—the remarkable way mangrove roots breathe life into the soil to fuel oil-eating bacteria. We also look at a promising new frontier: using "Engineered Bio-sorbents" made from natural waste like coconut husks to soak up oil before it ever touches the sediment. By blending the wisdom of nature with modern material science, this paper offers a practical roadmap for protecting these vital ecosystems from the scars of industrial accidents.