Final answer:
The Aral Sea's shrinkage led to the collapse of the local fishing industry, causing job loss for over 60,000 people. The increase in salinity and diversion of inflowing rivers for irrigation were primary causes, impacting both the environment and the health of local populations. Efforts to reverse damage in some areas have been made, but many challenges still remain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The shrinking of the Aral Sea has had a devastating impact on local employment. The fishing industry, which was a key source of work for over 60,000 people, has nearly collapsed due to the loss of the sea's fish population. This collapse is a direct result of an increase in salinity, and loss of water from the Aral Sea mainly caused by the diversion of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers for agricultural irrigation.
Poorly constructed irrigation canals and the creation of new lakes, such as Aydar Lake, have led to water being siphoned away from the Aral Sea. In addition to the loss of jobs in fishing, increased salinity and pesticide and herbicide-laden dust storms have led to serious health issues for the local population. While some efforts have been made to restore parts of the sea, much of it remains dry, especially in the southern region in Uzbekistan, where now multinational oil companies explore for oil beneath the dried seabed.