EquiMar (Equitable Testing and Evaluation of Marine Energy Extraction Devices in terms of Performance, Cost and Environmental Impact) is one of the first round of energy projects under the European Commissions 7th Framework Programme (FP7). The three year EquiMar project aims to deliver a suite of protocols for the evaluation of both wave and tidal converters, harmonizing testing and evaluation procedures across the wide range of available devices, accelerating adoption through technology matching and improving the understanding of both environmental and economic impacts associated with the deployment of devices. The EquiMar protocols will cover site selection, initial design, scaling up of designs, the deployment of arrays and environmental impact assessment as well as economic issues. EquiMar will build on existing protocols, e.g. UK DTI Marine Renewables Development Fund (MRDF) protocols for wave and tidal energy, and engage with international standards setting activities, e.g. IEC TC114.