The availability of marine finfish seedstock continues to be a bottleneck for commercial aquaculture development of high value marine species in the United States and around the world. Given the complex and sensitive nature of hatchery operations, including the captive spawning of broodstock, live feeds production, and larval rearing, it is necessary to employ species- and site-specific technologies to ensure reliable seedstock production. The University of Miami Experimental Hatchery (UMEH) on Virginia Key, Florida has a long track record of successful development of hatchery technology for a variety of high-value marine finfish species. Over the years, a combination of simple and advanced life support systems have been implemented at UMEH to provide optimal rearing conditions for broodstock, larval, and nursery stages for a number of marine finfish species, including cobia (Rachycentron canadum), mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), and olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), among many others. The facility operates both flow-through and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) utilizing ambient seawater sourced from nearshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. The life support systems at UMEH are constructed and operated in a manner to enable control over physical and chemical water quality parameters as well as exclude various parasites and microbial pathogens from the rearing systems. Marine finfish hatcheries worldwide face a multitude of issues related to water quality which can serve to inhibit reliable seedstock production. UMEH’s efforts to mitigate the potential impacts of such issues through life support systems design and application will be presented.