A mobile microalgae harvesting apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment the mobile microalgae harvesting apparatus includes a harvesting boom coupled to a harvesting vessel, where the harvesting boom skims a microalgae mixture of microalgae and water from a surface of a body of water down to a predetermined depth below the surface. In the embodiment, the mobile microalgae harvesting apparatus also includes a separator aboard the harvesting vessel that separates water from the microalgae mixture and a microalgae collector that collects microalgae from the separator, wherein the microalgae collector deposits the collected microalgae on a transfer vessel coupled to the harvesting vessel. A mobile microalgae harvester and a system for harvesting microalgae are also disclosed.