Meat from the first whales killed since Japan reinstituted commercial hunting has fetched sky-high “celebration prices” at auction.

International condemnation followed Japanese whaling boats as they left port on for-profit expeditions for – supposedly – the first time in 31 years earlier this week.

Upon their return, meat from two minkes caught off the northern city of Kushiro on Monday sold for up to 15,000 yen (£110.65) per kilo.

The figure was several times higher than the prices paid for Antarctic minkes.

During the three-decade hunting hiatus, Japan conducted research hunts in the Antarctic that conservationists criticised as a cover for banned commercial expeditions, and a “charade”.

Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated Show all 13 1 /13 Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated Mom and calf humpback whales make their way toward the surface in Tonga. Getty Images Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated salto della megattera durante whale watching in islanda, salto della balena, incredibile Getty Images/iStockphoto Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated An aerial photo of humpback whales in a pod Getty Images/iStockphoto Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated Humpback mother and calf, with a snorkeler, in Tonga. Getty Images/iStockphoto Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated Humpback Whale breaching out of water in the morning light in Iceland Getty Images/iStockphoto Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated humpback whales playing on surface in the blue between Tahiti and Moorea Getty Images/iStockphoto Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated A beached grey whale which died after an effort by local fishermen to pull her back out to sea. San Juanico, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Getty Images/iStockphoto Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated White Beluga Whale is looking at the camera from underwater. Getty Images/iStockphoto Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated An orca chases herrings on January 17, 2019, in the Reisafjorden fjord region, near the Norwegian northern city of Tromso in the Arctic Circle. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP) (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated TOPSHOT - An orca chases herrings on January 14, 2019, in the Reisafjorden fjord region, near the Norwegian northern city of Tromso in the Arctic Circle. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP) (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated A Humpback whale jumps in the surface of the Pacific Ocean at the Uramba Bahia Malaga National Natural Park in Colombia, on August 12, 2018. - Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate annually from the Antarctic Peninsula to peek into the Colombian Pacific Ocean coast, with an approximate distance of 8,500 km, to give birth and nurse their young. Humpback whales have a life cycle of 50 years or so and is about 18 meters long. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated A Humpback whale jumps in the surface of the Pacific Ocean at the Uramba Bahia Malaga National Natural Park in Colombia, on August 12, 2018. - Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate annually from the Antarctic Peninsula to peek into the Colombian Pacific Ocean coast, with an approximate distance of 8,500 km, to give birth and nurse their young. Humpback whales have a life cycle of 50 years or so and is about 18 meters long. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Whale intelligence continues to be underestimated A whale surfaces on July 8, 2018 just east of Montauk, New York in the Block Island Sound. Getty Images

Japan left the International Whaling Commission on 30 June and has promised the whalers will stay within its 200-mile exclusive economic waters.

Its fisheries agency has set the quota for killing the marine mammals at 227.

Its departure was the result of years of campaigning by industry backers and prime minister Shinzo Abe, whose constituency includes a city that has historically been a whaling base.

Whale meat sellers celebrated Thursday’s profitable start, but expressed uncertainty about the future of their business amid slim demand.