MIAMI, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Preliminary shooting for the movie "Bad Boys 2" starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence began in Miami Thursday just a day after the state of Florida lifted low-speed limits for manatee zones.
Lookouts are being posted in the air, on boats and on bridges to spot ponderous sea cows that might be in danger of being injured by the go-fast boats in a high-speed chase scene on Biscayne Bay and the Miami River.
Last week, state environmental officials rejected a request by Columbia Pictures for an emergency waiver of the manatee rules meant to protect the endangered species.
Producer Barry Waldman met with Gov. Jeb Bush Monday and Wednesday the state agreed to allow the shooting to go ahead with provisions for careful manatee monitoring, the St. Petersburg Times said Thursday.
Patti Thompson, director of science and conservation for the Save the Manatee Club, said she wasn't so sure the monitoring will work.
"There's no way they can guarantee that a manatee won't pop up on this chase," she said.
Thompson said she was as upset by the process as she was by the result.
"I've never heard of any emergency waivers for manatee rules, period, and I certainly know there's never been an emergency waiver for something like this," Thompson said. "The public was cut out of the process, and it was purposefully done."
But lobbyist Ron Book, hired by Columbia when the controversy first appeared, pointed out it is a $60 million picture with a bit potential for economic benefits for south Florida.
He said denial of the request would have created "catastrophic economic consequences to the state of Florida at a time when Florida's economy could least afford such impact."
The movie already had produced controversy in south Florida. Motorists are angry because plans call for closing busy MacArthur Causeway -- the southernmost link between Miami and Miami Beach -- from Monday through Thursday next week.
An estimated 90,000 commuters will have to change their route.
But again state and local officials prevailed, saying the county has a big economic stake in the filming, which overall will take 20 weeks.
