The population surrounding Sarasota Bay is distributed in the City of Sarasota, and the towns of Longboat Key, Bradenton Beach, and Cortez (figure 3.1). There are numerous residential housing developments and some commercial and public areas. The shorefront residents in these developments range from middle and upper middle class in Bradenton Beach to wealthy and exclusive areas on Longboat Key and the other barrier islands. A significant proportion of the shorefront residents are retired, upper income individuals who occupy their homes seasonally or year-round. Most of the shorefront residents have a dock, and may or may not own a boat.