Final answer:
The Aral Sea has shrunk to about 10% of its original size due to salinization and water diversion for irrigation, making the statement false. Conservation efforts have improved conditions in the Northern Aral Sea, but the larger Southern part remains in crisis. This represents one of the worst human-caused environmental disasters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Salinization has indeed had a devastating effect on the Aral Sea, but it is false that it has shrunk to about half its original size; the situation is much more severe. Since 1960, the Aral Sea has shrunk to about 10% of its original size, largely due to water diversion from its feeding rivers, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya, for irrigation purposes.
The northern part of the Aral Sea, known as the Little Aral Sea, has seen some improvement due to conservation efforts by Kazakhstan's government. They have constructed a dam and improved irrigation and water management, which has allowed water levels to rise and salinity to decrease somewhat, giving new life to the local fishing industry.