Sophie Demers
Published online March 25, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com.
LITCHFIELD – Samonix and Sweden-based Smögenlax have signed an agreement to advance the development of a proposed salmon farm at the Pontiac Industrial Park in Litchfield.
According to Samonix, the agreement will allow the company to use innovative aquaculture technology developed by Smögenlax. The land-based facility will use recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which reuse water through advanced filtration and treatment processes. These systems will support large pools used for salmon farming while maintaining water quality and minimizing contaminants.
The use of Smögenlax’s proprietary, patent-pending technology positions Samonix as a long-term development partner for the Swedish company in North America.
“This step represents an important day for Samonix. Smögenlax has recently made significant technological advances in aquaculture water treatment solutions. The partnership with Samonix demonstrates the credibility of our project. I am enthusiastic about this collaboration, which fits within an industry undergoing significant transformation,” said Mathieu Farley, president of Samonix Inc.
Farley said the technology is expected to maximize fish quality while minimizing the environmental impact of land-based farming. “The agreement will assess whether the system can be implemented in whole or in part at our future Litchfield facility. For the moment, the exact scope of technology integration is still under study,” he said.
The proposed salmon farm will include a water treatment facility and a 13-acre main building capable of producing approximately 12,000 metric tonnes of salmon annually. The project will require between 80 and 100 acres of land. Samonix aims to become the largest producer of Atlantic salmon in land-based aquaculture facilities in Eastern Canada. The project is expected to be reviewed by Quebec’s Bureau of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE).
“This is a recognition of our technical and innovative solutions based on our modular system of 2,000 tonnes per year. Samonix brings strong local leadership, a great capacity for project development and a long-term operational vision. Together, we will combine Swedish innovation in aquaculture with North American expertise,” said Joel Oresten, CEO of Smögenlax.
Samonix’s mission is to develop land-based aquaculture to raise fish locally without antibiotics. The company also emphasizes sustainability and minimizing environmental impact. It estimates the project will create more than 500 jobs during construction and about 100 permanent jobs once operational.
