What is a characteristic feature of captive breeding programs?

Captive breeding programs are primarily designed to increase the population of species that are threatened or endangered by breeding individuals in controlled environments. This controlled setting allows for the management of breeding conditions, ensuring that the animals can reproduce without the pressures and threats they might face in the wild, such as habitat loss, predation, or competition.

By carefully monitoring the health and reproductive success of the animals, captive breeding programs aim to produce offspring that can later be reintroduced into their natural habitats, thus helping to bolster wild populations and maintain biodiversity. This approach also allows for genetic management, which can help maintain or increase genetic diversity within the species being bred.

In contrast, options related to harvesting fish from the ocean or producing animals solely for laboratory testing do not align with the primary objectives of captive breeding programs, which focus on conservation rather than exploitation or research in isolation. The emphasis on ensuring genetic diversity of species in the wild is a secondary outcome, rather than an immediate characteristic of the breeding process itself.