In an outcome hailed by environmentalists, European Union lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to overhaul the region's troubled fisheries policy to end decades of overfishing.

The European Parliament voted 502-to-137 to impose sustainable quotas by 2015 and end the wasteful practice of discarding unwanted fish at sea.

"This is a triumph especially in these times of crisis," Roberto Ferrigno, a fisheries expert at WWF's European Policy Office.

"Everyone wants a strong reform: citizens, industry and fishermen. … Now it's clear after this vote that it is a political priority to shape up EU fisheries and provide long-term stability to fishing communities, fishermen, businesses and the marine environment they depend on."

(READ the story in the New York Times)