Has the alleged ice melting been tracked with overall global temperature changes? Can a spell of warming that ended a decade ago take a while to show up in the Arctic ice, like an echo? Might the polar bears in the meantime find themselves comfortable on more southerly land areas that freeze well? (They are basically white versions of brown bears.) Being able to freely navigate the Arctic for a while might have its advantages for people in the meantime.
More open seas to hunt whale!