Aquaculture is the main promising direction for the development of the fisheries industry. Analysis of the general condition of fish breeding enterprises and the potential for expanding production shows that the growth trend of traditional for the southern regions pond fish breeding is weak. A significant problem for the development of aquaculture is the high price of fish products and, accordingly, low demand. A substantial reduction in the cost of fish production is currently unlikely to be achieved, so switching to more valuable fish varieties can stimulate consumption. To ensure the development of the fish products market and increase demand, entrepreneurs in southern Russia are improving technologies for growing such valuable fish varieties as salmonoids, in particular, rainbow trout. Studying the activities of trout farms requires taking into account which area of activity is prioritized. A farm can produce marketable fish or fish planting material, as well as execute both types of production. The work observes the organizational features of trout farms and promising directions of their development. Solving such key issues as the provision of qualified personnel, high-quality feed of domestic, preferably regional production, and provision of logistically affordable and high-quality planting material is the basis for achieving the goals of import substitution for high-quality fish products in Russia.