EMMONAK-According to Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials, the field office staffed by Fish and Game will be closed indefinitely.

The closure comes as a result of recent cases of harassment by local teens in the community. They also cite cases of vandalism at the office and in other locations in the area. Managing biologist, Jeff Estensen says that these incidences have created a potentially hazardous work environment for his staff.

This hampers work efforts of the department as it is they who manage the Yukon River Fishery. Fish and Game report that some workers will remain in the village, but those workers will operate without an office.

Emmonak is located 490 miles from Anchorage, and is positioned at the mouth of the Yukon River 10 miles from the shores of the Bering Sea. This Yupik commercial fishing village is home to about 760 people.