Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have come under fire from business owners in Malta over allegations filming on their new movie is disrupting the local diving community.

Jolie is directing and starring in By The Sea along with her new husband, and the crew has cordoned off areas for filming on the island of Gozo, which is packed with diving centres, and many owners fear the closure is harming their business.

Donna Hayler-Montague, owner of the Bubbles Diving Centre in Gozo, tells British newspaper The Sun, "Brad and Angelina started filming in August and originally the Prime Minister said the bays would be closed for a few days. Now they plan to be there till November. Our high season is September and October so they've taken over the bays in that season. It is quite dramatic for the diving community. We are asking for compromise. We have offered not to take phones or cameras along."

The film, which was also written by Jolie, is the story of an unhappily married couple and marks the stars' first onscreen performance together since Mr. and Mrs. Smith in 2004.