Indonesia is gifted with abundant marine resources that can be utilized as much as possible for the state development and its people�s welfare. In reality, the condition of coastal communities or fishermen in many areas is in poverty condition. One of the fishermen poverty causes is limitation in earning capital for their business development. Therefore, the Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs of Republic of Indonesia in cooperation with National Land Agency RI to carry out Land Rights Certification for the fishermen with the aim is to provide land rights certificate that can be used as collateral for the
fishermen and small scale fishery business for the improvement of capital access in order to the business development. In context of fishermen land certification, Ternate City is one of city carrying out Fishermen Land Right Certification in 2011 precisely in Dufa-Dufa Village North Ternate Sub-District. It is expected after having the certificate the fishermen in Dufa-Dufa village could enhance their welfare and independence through their assets.
Method used in this research was qualitative method with evaluation study approach. Type of data used was primary and secondary data, data sources are Dufa-Dufa villagers as the receiver of fishermen land rights certificate in 2011 and capital institution. Whereas for Ternate Land Office and Maritime and Fisheries Agency of Ternate City are elements who directly
involved in the implementation of Fishermen Land Rights Certificate. Research result indicated that the land rights certificate for fishermen in Dufa-Dufa Village provided many economic benefits for the fishermen who utilized land right certificate namely for business capital addition and to develop new business. Meanwhile for fishermen community who have not
utilized land right certificate they have received or only kept it, the certificate has not provided any economic benefit. Economic benefit obtained from the land right certificate was implicated to the welfare and independence of fishermen community who have utilized it. The welfare was seen by the increase of income from the business they developed, whereas the
independence was seen from the fishermen confidence to take initiative to develop new business without any pressure or depending on others. Independence was also seen on the fishermen ability to pay their credit installment regularly without adding any new loan.

Key Words: Land Right Certificate, Fishermen, Welfare, Independence.