Flotsam -

refers to debris or cargo that remains floating on the water's surface after a ship has sunk or been wrecked. While often grouped with its counterpart, "jetsam," flotsam is legally distinct because it was not deliberately discarded; it is the accidental byproduct of a maritime disaster. Maritime & Legal Context

Modern flotsam, particularly plastic waste, is a significant contributor to the Pacific Garbage Patch and poses severe risks to marine wildlife that mistake debris for food. Literature and Arts Flotsam

Cargo or equipment deliberately thrown overboard (jettisoned) to lighten a ship in distress. Legally, jetsam typically remains the property of the original owner. refers to debris or cargo that remains floating