JAPANESE mariners have been rescued off the coast of Perth after their fishing vessel caught fire.

In a statement, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said it coordinated the rescue of 24 seafarers from a Japanese fishing vessel that caught alight off the coast of Perth.

Around 7.45am on Tuesday today AMSA received an alert from the Japan Coast Guard reporting the Myojin Maru No. 8, was in distress after a fire broke out.

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Reports indicated 24 crew members were abandoning the vessel into life boats.

The AMSA Joint Rescue Coordination Centre issued a distress priority broadcast to shipping and tasked its Perth Challenger rescue jet to help with the search and rescue operation.

Footage of the rescue can be